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Women Human Rights Defenders: Leading the Way to a World Free From Violence

by Hanna Rabah

By: Maddison Hall, Program Coordinator

“Women human rights defenders [are] both female human rights defenders and any other human rights defenders who work in the defence of women’s rights or on gender issues.” – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

Girls Parliament
Girl Power Kenya is a group dedicated to addressing the harmful practice of beading young girls into non-marital sexual relationships among Kenya’s Samburu communities. (Beading is a cultural practice among the Samburu community, which sanctions a non-marital sexual relationship between Samburu men in the ‘warrior’ age group and young Samburu girls, usually between the ages of 9-15 years, who are not yet eligible for marriage). Photo source: Georgina Obonyo/Girl Power Kenya

In an increasingly tumultuous and unstable world, women human right defenders play a critical role in promoting peace and prosperity in their families, communities, and nations. For decades, women have played a pivotal role in peace and security, enhancing the rights and opportunities for all. Yet, despite the evidence of women’s powerful influence in enhancing peace processes and human rights protections, women human rights defenders remain excluded from crucial negotiations processes. Recent analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations, which reviewed formal peace processes from 1992 to 2019, found that women made up only 13 percent of negotiators, six percent of mediators, and six percent of signatories to peace processes. A 2020 report from the United Nations Security Council highlights the profound gaps in funding to women-led organizations who defend human rights, promote security, and further gender equality in conflict affected areas;  less than one percent of bilateral aid in these contexts is given to women-led organizations.

“The participation of civil society groups, including women’s organizations, makes a peace agreement 64% less likely to fail.” – Desirée Nilsson

Across the world, WI-HER partners with women human rights defenders to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, enhance women’s economic empowerment, promote gender equity, advance health outcomes, and ensure people of all genders have opportunities to thrive. In every sector and in every approach, WI-HER centers human rights and the voices of women human rights defenders. Today, on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, WI-HER applauds those who bravely strive to protect the lives and rights of women and girls, ultimately improving society for all.

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